2018 Endorsements

The wins and loses have not been updated due to our rapid response work on the Green New Deal. Stay tuned for updates on wins and loses and thanks for your patience.

Every one of the candidates below rejected fossil fuel money, refusing to be bought out by oil and gas CEOs and placing their loyalty and fates in the hands of everyday people instead. If elected, they would help pass ambitious climate policy in DC and in statehouses across the country. Many of them are running historic campaigns — to become the first women, LGBTQ people, and people of color to ever hold office in their districts.

As working mothers, small business-owners, and immigrants, our candidates are from all walks of life. The one thing they have in common? They ran visionary campaigns to build a better world for all of us.

candidates we support

JESS KING - (D)

Pennsylvania Candidate for US Congress (PA-11)

Jess is a working mom, small business owner, and a leader in local economic development. She was born and raised in south central Pennsylvania where she’s spent the last decades fighting for affordable housing and community development and starting her own local business incubator. Jess believes that every American deserves access to clean water, clean air, and good-paying jobs that can sustain families. She has fought against dangerous pipelines, like the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline, that threaten her community and strongly advocates for investment in clean energy infrastructure. She faces incumbent Lloyd Smucker in the general election in November who’s pocketed thousands from the Koch Brothers, the NRA, and Williams, the company behind the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline.

After the redrawing of maps due to a redistricting reform decision in February left the campaign in a Republican district, King supporters aren’t giving up. They set and JUST HIT an ambitious goal of contacting 100,000 voters this summer alone and have assembled over 20 local organizing teams to meet their goal. In a year of political upsets, we have a lot of hope that, come November, Jess King will represent thousands of Pennsylvanians in Congress.

Andrew Gillum - (D)

Democratic Nominee for Florida Governor

Andrew Gillum became the Democratic nominee for Florida Governor after an ultra-competitive primary on August 28th. He was outspent 30 to 1, had just one TV ad, and was the only non-millionaire in the race. His platform included Medicare-for-All, transitioning off fossil fuels, criminal justice reform, and abolishing ICE.

Born in Miami, Andrew became the Mayor of Tallahassee in 2014 and spent 15 years in public service before running for Governor. During that time, he reduced Tallahassee electricity users’ carbon footprint by 20%, tripled solar energy capacity, and invested in energy efficiency programs. As Governor, he’ll push for a transition towards a 100% renewable energy economy, continued support for climate refugees and impacted Floridians and Puerto Ricans, protecting water from toxic algal blooms, and creating thousands of good-paying green jobs in the state. He faces off against Republican nominee and Trump-backed Ron DeSantis in the General election this November.

ILHAN OMAR - (D)

Minnesota Candidate for US Congress (MN-05)

Ilhan Omar made history when she when she was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives and became the first Somali-American, Muslim legislator in the United States. She fled Somalia’s civil war at just eight years old, living in Kenya for four years in a refugee camp until eventually settling in Minneapolis in her early adolescence. She’s been a dedicated organizer and community member in Minneapolis for over 20 years. Ilhan has fiercely backed a moratorium on new oil and gas infrastructure, especially when it comes to the Line 3 pipeline. She’s promised to stop tax loopholes and giveaways to fossil fuel executives, if elected to office and will support legislation to create good-paying, union jobs in the clean energy sector instead.

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ - (D)

New York Candidate for US Congress (NY-14)

After defeating ten term incumbent, Joe Crowley, earlier this summer, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez has exploded as a progressive star in American politics. She has one of the most ambitious climate platforms of any candidate running for Congress today, strongly supporting a transition to a carbon-free, 100% renewable energy system and a fully modernized electrical grid by 2035. If elected to office, she’s pledged to fight for a “Green New Deal”, recognizing that fully and immediately addressing climate change could move us towards a more equitable economy and political system for all.

Kristin Seale - (D)

PA State House Candidate (HD-168)

Kristin is running a historic campaign to become the first female and first queer Representative to serve PA’s 168th House district and has rejected all corporate PAC money. She has been an active member of the local, grassroots fight against the Mariner East II pipeline for years, staunchly opposing construction because of the dangers the pipeline poses to thousands of Pennsylvanians along its path. Kristin spent the last year on a listening tour with community members, to understand what’s working and what’s not in local government, and how she can serve them best in office. Should she succeed in November, she will have won on a platform that includes a $15 minimum wage, Medicare for All, LGBTQ equality, ending cash bail, increased and full public funding for education, and ending fossil fuels.

RASHIDA TLAIB - (D)

Michigan Candidate for US Congress (MI-13)

Born and raised in Detroit, MI, Rashida is a fighter for working Americans across the state — her platform includes ending bailouts for corporations and the ultra-wealthy, protecting our air and water from polluters, ensuring healthcare for all, and guaranteeing good-paying jobs. She’s a badass and has shown she’s willing to go the mile to protect our communities from toxic pollution. In 2013, she trespassed on Koch Brothers property to take sample tests of the “petcoke” that was dumped in Detroit’s waterfront after the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality refused to do the testing themselves. She then used the results to prompt government action to address the pollution.

I don’t tolerate bullies, and I’m not going to let them poison my kids or yours.

Anna Eskamani - (D)

Florida State House Candidate (HD-47)

Anna Eskamani is a working class progressive advocate, daughter of immigrants, and our endorsed candidate in the Democratic primary for Florida’s House District 47 in the Orlando region, where she has lived her whole life. She was one of the earliest signers in Florida of the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge, wants to “eliminate the tight grip fossil fuel energy companies have in Florida,” push the whole state in joining her home city of Orlando in setting its sights on 100% renewable energy. Anna believes that Florida’s future economy relies on protecting and preserving our natural resources, from waterways to beaches, and wants to make the “Sunshine State,” a global leader in renewable energy, especially solar. She was the Senior Director for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida for the last 6 years, is pursuing her PhD in Public Affairs from University of Central Florida, and she’s only 28!

DANIELLE FRIEL OTTEN - (D)

Pennsylvania State House Candidate (HD-155)

Danielle got involved in politics when she learned the proposed Mariner East 2 pipeline, carrying highly explosive natural gas liquids, was slated to go through her backyard. She sprang into action immediately, co-founding multiple citizen action organizations that support constituents to advocate at the local and state level with legislators to close loopholes and pass legislation protect the health welfare and safety of our community, work within the community to educate neighbors on the realities of pipeline development while empowering them toward action in social change, and support victims of pipeline destruction through efforts to document, publicize and pull the curtains back on the destruction and danger that comes along with this development.

Danielle hopes to continue her efforts to educate, advocate for and protect her community as an elected representative.

Three years ago, I was sitting in a township meeting pregnant with my daughter, tears rolling down my face in frustration at the inaction of our government in protecting my kids, my community and our investment in our home. Today, I’m running for office. We have had many victories and many defeats over the last 4 years. The greatest victory is all of the people that we have brought together, educated and engaged in the process of social change.

KATIE MUTH - (D)

Pennsylvania State Senate Candidate (SD-44)

Katie Muth experienced firsthand the dangers that fossil fuels pose to our health and livelihoods when her own father witnessed a gas pipeline explosion in Western Pennsylvania. She’s opposed the construction of natural gas pipelines through her district or any other district in the state and pledged to stand up for her constituents in Harrisburg in the face of corporate greed. She points to tax cuts giveaways to the oil and gas industry as a major issue at a time when Pennsylvania faces deep funding challenges. She believes penalizing corporations for jeopardizing the safety of our communities is necessary while simultaneously investing in clean, affordable water, good-paying renewable energy jobs and more.

ZELLNOR MYRIE - (D, working families party)

New York State Senate Candidate (SD-20)

Zellnor Myrie is a Brooklyn native, lawyer, and activist who’s fighting back against the establishment in New York state. His opponent is a member of the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), a group of eight members of the New York State Senate who were elected as Democrats, but caucus and align with Republicans. Zellnor believes deeply in the need for environmental justice, that all people, regardless of race, class, or gender should have the same rights to clean air and water and a safe home. He supports ambitious legislation to move New York to 100% renewable energy and make it the nation’s leader in climate justice policies.

ALESSANDRA BIAGGI - (D, working families party)

New York State Senate Candidate (SD-34)

Alessandra was born and raised in District 34, where she’s now running for State Senate and will represent people in the Bronx and Westchester. Core tenets of her climate and environmental justice platform include: ensuring that everyone has access to renewable energy, preventing future fossil fuel infrastructure development, including pipelines for fracked gas, and investing heavily in public transportation.

JULIA SALAZAR

New York State Senate Candidate (SD-18)

Julia has bas been an organizer and activist for social justice in her communities since college. These days, that community is Brooklyn, NY where she’s challenging an incumbent Democrat who has been part of a group of Democrats responsible for blocking New York from passing the most aggressive climate legislation in the country. She’s the daughter of two working-class immigrants, and has been a passionate advocate, tenant, and union member in her community. She’s supported legislation like Climate and Communities Protection Act that would transition New York to 100% renewable energy economy.

There is no way to extricate our fight to save our planet and the fight for racial and class equality. As the former national President of the NAACP and a lifelong civil rights leader, I view my environmental activism as a civil rights issue. I’m committed to making sure that we prioritize equity when developing policies that deal with climate, energy, and the environment.

Ben Jealous - (D)

Maryland Candidate for Governor

Ben Jealous is a civil rights leader, community organizer, businessman, and teacher who “has spent his life bringing people together to get big things done.” At age 35, Ben was named the youngest ever National President and CEO of the NAACP where he helped establish the NAACP’s national climate and environmental justice program. A lifelong fighter for civil rights and the environment, Ben knows that the future is in renewable energy is committed to an inclusive and prosperous 100% renewable energy economy for Maryland as fast as possible. He was one of the earliest signers of the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge and supports a moratorium on all new fossil fuel infrastructure development so we can immediately begin creating good-paying jobs stopping climate change rather than causing it. Ben handily won his primary in June and now faces incumbent Republican Governor Larry Hogan in the general election.

Anton Andrew

Pennsylvania State House Candidate (HD-160)

Anton Andrew is running to unseat incumbent Republican Steve Barrar, who has occupied the PA House position since 1997. A former public defender and community activist and child of immigrants, Anton strongly believes in a government for all people championing affordable healthcare, ending gerrymandering, full funding for public education and a clean environment.

Anton spent the last 15 years working on land and urban conservancy and public health. He supports strong regulation of the fracked gas industry and increasing funding for the PA Department of Environmental Protection understanding all people regardless of race, class, or political affiliation rely on clean water and air.

RANDY BRYCE

Wisconsin Candidate for US Congress (WI-01)

Randy, also known as “Iron Stache”, has been running an absolutely electric and inspiring campaign to “repeal and replace” current House Speaker Paul Ryan, and perhaps as a result, Ryan has decided he won’t seek another term. As an ironworker, Randy knows the importance of good quality, family-sustaining union jobs and knows that organized labor must be central to our rapid transition to a renewable energy future. He supports massive investment in green infrastructure programs that could generate thousands of new jobs for Wisconsinites, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and supports getting America to a fossil-free economy by 2035. He pledged early on to refuse donations from fossil fuel executives — in clear contrast to his former opponent Ryan who has taken a whopping $2 million from oil and gas interests throughout his career.

Everything depends on our ability to sustainably inhabit this earth and true sustainability will require us all to change our way of thinking on how we take from the earth and how we can give back.

Deb Haaland - (D)

New Mexico Candidate for US Congress (NM-01)

A Native American child of veterans and single mother who joined with other nations at Standing Rock to protect the water threatened by the Dakota Access Pipeline, Deb knows what it means to fight and protect. That’s good news for us if she makes it to Congress, because she lists climate and the environment as her top priorities. Deb Haaland has signed the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge and supports 100% renewable energy, a ban on fracking, and isn’t afraid to call out fossil fuel billionaires for “the harms it has done to our communities -- especially poor communities and communities of color” by “wrecking our climate, poisoning our neighborhoods, and trampling over sovereign Native Nations.” Deb understands that our environment and our economy are deeply connected, and also that the best way to save our economy is to protect our environment and responsibly and equitably invest in our infrastructure to create millions of good jobs enabling a transition to a renewable energy future.

DANA HAMP GULICK - (D)

Pennsylvania State House Candidate (HD-97)

Dana’s family has lived in this district for generations. She’s running because she wants to make real the promise of a state that work for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected.

Dana is running for office because she knows what oil and gas pipelines, like the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline project, which runs through her county, can do to the people and places she loves. She’s witnessed personally the ways in which existing efforts to stop, mitigate, and slow the process of approving the pipelines have been intense but ineffective. Dana has vowed to do anything in her power to bring pressure to bear in favor of constituents or communities impacted by pipeline construction, hazards, or inappropriate use of eminent domain.

Elizabeth Fiedler

Candidate for PA State House (HD-184)

Elizabeth Fiedler grew up in rural PA and has been a reporter for the local WHYY radio station in South Philly covering community affairs and politics for a decade. She knows firsthand the struggle of Pennsylvanians from all walks of life and political affiliation. She chose to run for office because the public policies and changes being made in Harrisburg will personally affect her family’s lives.

As the representative for the 184th district, Elizabeth plans to push for expanded public transit, job-creating investments in wind, solar, electrification, efficiency, and climate adaptation, increase state renewable energy standards, and making democratically and publicly-owned projects, like community-owned solar, legal in PA. She’ll fight for the end of mass incarceration, healthcare for all, ending massive tax breaks for the mega-rich.

I love Pennsylvania. I think it’s the most beautiful place in the world. I want my children to have the chance to love our state, too. Every single one of us has a right to right to clean air, clean water, and renewable energy. Unfortunately, many of our politicians are bought and paid for by the fossil fuel industry, which takes and takes from our state and leaves behind only polluted water and pipelines.

Michele wherley (D)

Pennsylvania State House Candidate (HD-41)

Michele’s district covers the heart of Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s farmland, which is also the heart of the grassroots opposition to the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline. She believes that this pipeline, which she strongly opposes, is just one example of how “our political process is broken and we’re all paying a price for its dysfunction.” As the first person in her family to attend college and earn a college degree from a background that she describes as “blue collar, working class” She believes she understands what it takes to win the hearts and minds of voters in rural Pennsylvania.

Summer Lee

Candidate for PA State House (HD-34)

Summer Lee won her primary against incumbent Paul Costa (who won his first bid in 1998) in May becoming the first black woman ever elected to the 34th House District. Summer has lived in Allegheny County her entire life where 35% of children of the Woodland Hills School District suffer from asthma and many others are exposed to lead contamination on a daily basis. She identifies the district as one of the worst in the country for clean air and water, and will advocate for transitioning Pennsylvania to 100% renewable energy, restoring the Department of Environmental Protection's budget, imposing a moratorium on fracking and full state funding to replace lead water lines.

Leanne Krueger-Braneky

Candidate for PA State House (HD-161)

Leanne has represented Pennsylvania’s 161st House District since 2015. She made history as the first woman to win a seat in the district and has championed women’s and environmental justice issues and fought hard for working families since being elected. Prior to running for office, Leanne served as the Executive Director for the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, helping create green jobs for low-income Philadelphians and supporting thousands of local businesses across the state to thrive.

In the PA State House, she has led the fight to crack down on fracking and pipeline companies, divest the state’s pension funds from fossil fuels, and build public support for legislation to move Pennsylvania to 100% renewable energy.

Dana Nessel - (D)

Candidate for MI Attorney General

After winning defeating the Michigan Democratic establishment’s preferred candidate in a landslide to secure her party’s nomination, Dana Nessel is running for GOP nominee for Michigan Governor, Bill Schuette’s, vacant Attorney General seat. With an impressive legal career spanning over 20 years, Dana is a proven advocate for civil rights. She prosecuted extremely difficult cases with the Child and Family Abuse Bureau of Wayne County for over a decade before becoming a constitutional Defense Attorney. She is renowned as one of the best litigators for LGBTQ rights in the country, for winning a case that helped lead to the Supreme Court ruling that ultimately legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

On climate and environment, Nessel could not be more different from Bill Schuette, who spent his tenure courting wealthy donors and standing by as the Line 5 pipeline threatened the Great Lakes, as Flint children drink poisoned water, and as Nestle Corporation bottles water for free while Detroit citizens get their water shut off. In contrast, Dana has committed to fighting any pipeline that threatens the Great Lakes and prosecuting any polluter that “threaten[s] the health and safety of Michiganders.”

If that isn’t enough, Dana has pledged to bring down auto-insurance rates in Michigan, the highest in the nation, defend workers and labor unions, prosecute hate crimes to the greatest extent, and protect immigrants from deportation and exploitation.

Matt Longjohn - (D)

Michigan Candidate for US Congress (MI-06)

Matt Longjohn is a doctor and was raised in South West Michigan by a working class family. He’s sworn off all corporate PAC money, pledging to put Michiganders first and stand up to the Trump Administration. If elected, Matt will fight for universal healthcare, resist the disinvestment in out public education system carried out by privatization hawks like Betsy DeVos, and work to transition our country to a 100% renewable energy economy, creating jobs and protecting our water and air.

Kara Eastman - (D)

Nebraska Candidate for US Congress (NE-02)

Kara Eastman has lived in Omaha her whole life and was a social worker and CEO of the Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance prior to running for office in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. If Kara wins this November against GOP candidate Don Bacon, she will be the first female Congresswoman to represent Nebraska 02 ever. And she’s not just any woman - Kara’s running on an ambitious platform to raise the minimum wage, end policies and practices that threaten our democracy like Citizens United and gerrymandering, stopping the Keystone XL pipeline (the proposed route goes right through her district) and passing gun control regulations. She stands with Nebraskans who’ve been forced to cede their land and witnessed how corporations have polluted our air and water for their own profit.

Nika Elugardo - (D)

Candidate for Massachusetts State House (HD-15)

Nika Elugardo took on and defeated incumbent Jeffrey Sanchez, one of the highest ranking figures in Massachusetts politics, in the primary election after Sanchez scuttled key immigration, environment, and education legislation this legislative cycle. Nika has over 20 years experience in public policy and community and economic development supporting black and Latino communities in Greater Boston. She supports a transition to a 100% renewable energy economy that leaves no community behind, and will push Massachusetts to be a leader in climate solutions during her tenure. Sunrise Boston volunteers contacted thousands of voters for Nika in the primary, helping her secure victory by a razor-thin, 300 vote margin.

Ayanna Pressley - (D)

Massachusetts Candidate for US Congress (MA-1)

On September 4th, Ayanna Pressley defeated 10-term incumbent, Mike Capuano, positioning herself to become the first black Congresswoman of Massachusetts. Ayanna already made history when she became the first black Boston City Councilwoman. She signed the #NoFossilFuelMoney pledge within weeks of launching her campaign. She’s been a staunch supporter of transitioning towards a 100 renewable energy economy by 2035, citing the disastrous impacts of pollution and climate change on working families of all races. Campaigning on a slogan of “Change Can’t Wait,” Ayanna supports Medicare for All, ending gun violence and providing support for trauma victims, and affordable housing for all.

Greta Neubauer - (D)

Candidate for WI State House (Assembly District 66)

At just 26 years old, Greta Neubauer is the youngest member of the WI State Assembly, and has been engaged in politics and climate justice organizing for over 10 years. As a college student, she helped co-found the Fossil Fuel Divestment Student Network, coaching and supporting a large network of college campuses to disinvest their institutions from the coal, oil and gas companies destroying our futures. Feeling energized following the 2016 elections, Greta moved home to Wisconsin and ran for State Assembly with a pledge to introduce and work towards model legislation for a Green New Deal in the Rust Belt, bringing in thousands of good, green jobs, and building an economy and society that serves all people.

Growing up in Racine, I saw how difficult it was for many families to make ends meet. I joined the 2008 Obama campaign because, like Barack Obama, I believe this country can do better. I became active in the climate movement when I saw politicians mortgaging my generation’s future because they were afraid to stand up to the fossil fuel industry. I have been fighting for an economy based in the principles of resilience and equity, an economy for all of us, ever since.

Chris Lee

Candidate for HI State House (HD-51)

When elected to office in 2008, Chris Lee was the youngest member of the Hawai’i State Legislature and the only millennial. Over the past decade in office, he has paved the way for a number of progressive reforms on expanding civil rights, ensuring gun safety reform, legalizing same-sex marriage, ratifying transgender rights, expanding voting rights, exposing dark money in politics, and more. But on no issue has Chris Lee been more of a leader than in the effort to expand clean energy, fight climate change, and protect the environment in Hawai’i and around the world.

Time after time, he has stood up to powerful interests like the state utility monopoly, national corporations, and even the Federal government to make Hawai’i the national leader in climate action. In 2015, he made history by authoring and passing the first statewide 100% renewable electricity in the nation, and also passed a bill directing the state to eliminate fossil fuels from ground transportation. In 2017 when President Trump pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement, Lee immediately authored and passed legislation making Hawai’i the first state in the nation to ratify it. He’s divested the University of Hawai’i system from fossil fuel holdings and moved them to net-zero energy and 100% renewables by 2035. This year, he wrote and passed a bill which makes Hawai’i the first state to legally commit to a zero-emissions clean economy and statewide carbon neutrality by 2045. In a state whose economy has long been dominated by the military and tourism, alternative energy has been the fastest growing industry in Hawai’i for a number of years, and “solar-panel installer” is the number-one fastest growing jobs, because of Lee’s work.

If all that wasn’t enough, he’s been traveling around the country and the world helping other states and legislators learn from and follow Hawai’i’s successes. It’s likely that this millennial is the most accomplished climate change legislator in the country. Chris is a true fighter for people and planet who has set an example for many politicians to follow.

Kevin DeLeón - (D)

Candidate for US Senate (D-California)

Kevin De León is challenging long-time Senator Dianne Feinstein for a shot at representing almost 40 million Californians in the US Senate. He lists climate change and environmental justice as one of his top three reasons for running, and one of his top priorities if elected. As the President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate, Kevin authored bold climate bills like SB100, which commits California to get 100 percent of its electricity from clean sources by 2045. He has put justice at the forefront of his work, fighting to protect vulnerable communities from pollution, including working people in the transition to a clean energy economy, elevating low-wage workers, ensuring workplace protections and health care for all, building equity for women, and working towards permanent protection for immigrants. Like all Sunrise-endorsed candidates, he’s a signer of the #NoFossilFuelMoney Pledge.

Chloe Maxmin

Candidate for Maine State House (HD-88)

Chloe Maxmin is a powerhouse millennial who’s been a climate activist since she was 12 years old. As a student, she founded Divest Harvard to disinvest Harvard University from the coal, oil and gas companies that profit off climate change. She helped launch a global divestment movement and is considered one of the leading voices for young people fighting the climate crisis. After college, she returned back to Maine, working to build political power in her home state and pass the climate legislation and just policies we need for working families in Maine and around the country.

Defeated

Though these candidates lost, we want to thank them for running inspiring, people-powered campaigns that changed the conversation, challenged entrenched and powerful figures, activated thousands to get involved in our politics, and set the bar for what leadership looks like in this country. We know this is just the beginning.

ABDUL EL-SAYED - (D)

Michigan Candidate for Governor

At just 30 years old, Abdul El-Sayed became the youngest health official of a major American city when he was hired to rebuild Detroit's Health Department after it was privatized during the city's bankruptcy. Throughout his career, Abdul has taken action to provide clean air and water to Michiganders, by taking on polluting corporations and working with them to reduce emissions, invest in parks, and ensure that children attending Detroit schools and daycares had access to lead-free water. Abdul will continue to work in the state of Michigan to divest from a polluting economy, establish labor policies and programs to ensure green jobs are good jobs, expand electric vehicle programs, and more.

JUMAANE WILLIAMS - (D, working families party)

Democratic Candidate for Lt. Gov (NY)

Jumaane is an advocate for affordable housing, anti-gun violence measures, fair policing, equity, and social justice. When it comes to fighting climate change and protecting our environment, Jumaane’s plan includes investing in public transportation in our urban areas, conserving more land across the state, protecting our clean water and public health, and divesting from the fossil fuel industry. He signed the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge and ran jointly with Cynthia Nixon for Governor.

CYNTHIA NIXON - (D, Working families party)

Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate (NY)

Cynthia Nixon took on the most powerful figure in New York politics, Governor Andrew Cuomo, for a shot at becoming the next Governor of New York. Though she ultimately lost, Cynthia’s campaign changed the conversation in New York politics. She supported the immediate passage of the Climate and Community Protection Act which would mandate in law that New York must transition to 100% clean energy by no later than 2050. The bill requires that 40% of state energy funding be directed towards the low-income communities and communities of color most impacted by climate change and ensures fair labor standards for the jobs created through the program — so that green jobs are good jobs. She took the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge in a press conference with Sunrise leaders. In contrast, Cuomo has taken almost $500,000 from fossil fuel interests including $86,000 from the Koch Brothers.

KANIELA ING - (D)

Hawai’i Candidate for US Congress (HI-01)

Kaniela is a Native Hawaiian, millennial father, and a three-term state legislator. He ran a 100% people-powered campaign and calling for the entire United States to join Hawai’i in moving to 100% renewable energy. Kaniela was the only candidate in the race with a serious climate plan and who signed the #NoFossilFuelMoney pledge. He also championed a “Green New Deal” to create millions of good jobs fighting climate change with a jobs guarantee that would put every American who needs a job to work scaling up renewable energy, planting trees, making homes and business more energy efficient, and more.

Penelope Tsernoglou - (D)

Michigan State House Candidate (HD-69)

Penelope Tsernoglou is a lifelong Michigander and progressive advocate, and was one of the first candidates in Michigan to proudly take the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge. Penelope wants to build on Michigan’s manufacturing legacy to make it the industrial powerhouse of the future — a leader in developing wind, solar, and other renewable energy and clean technologies. She vowed to use her platform to advocate against the dangerous Line 5 pipeline which would be a threat to Michiganders clean drinking water, and wants to hold accountable those responsible for the Flint Water Crisis and ensure it never happens again.